Pesticide exposure could be linked to infertility: Study

Women who consume foods that have high levels of pesticide residue may find getting pregnant a challenge.

New study suggests infertility treatments many not be very effective for those who consume foods that contain very high levels of pesticide residue.

Specific foods like strawberries and spinach require more pesticides to ensure better quality and washing these kinds of fruits and vegetables may make "no difference", study author Dr Jorge Chavarro told the Daily Mail.

This study may provide a clue as to how environmental factors may be linked to falling pregnancy rates.

For the study conducted by Harvard University, researchers examined women who were undergoing fertility treatment. They discovered women who ate foods that contained high amounts of pesticides were less likely to get pregnant and reduced their chances of delivering a baby.

While the study has not determined how it affects fertility, Dr Chavarro said "what appears to be driving infertility is an increase in pregnancy loss, especially early in pregnancy," the report stated.

Adding, "What we think we're seeing is a direct effect of pesticides on cell death in developing embryos, very, very early on in pregnancy."

The study warns that our attitude toward the regulation of pesticide is our downfall. It will continue to document the relationship between the two.